Protests in Ukraine Turn Deadly

At Least Two Protesters Killed Amid New Police Crackdown on Demonstrations

By

James Marson and

Katya Gorchinskaya

Updated Jan. 22, 2014 7:36 p.m. ET

KIEV, Ukraine—At least two protesters died of gunshot wounds as police cracked down on antigovernment demonstrations, marking the first deaths and a dramatic escalation in the conflict over whether this former Soviet republic will move closer to the West or Russia.

As President Viktor Yanukovych held talks with the leaders of the three main opposition parties Wednesday that yielded no immediate results, the weekslong confrontation...